witesoxfan

Punto is pretty damn good defensively; that's the main reason the Twins were willing to throw as much as they did at him.

so how many more times throughout the offseason are the Peavy/Cubs talks going to heat up? I'll place the over/under at 2.5

I've been talking to my girlfriend for a while to try and go down the Hershey Highway, and she finally agreed to do it on one condition: that I take her out to a restaurant. Where should I take her and what should I suggest she gets?

I understand the concept of shopping Jenks, but you don't trade him in a package. The bullpen had enough issues last year and trading away the best reliever of the bunch, even with diminishing peripherals, would drastically hurt the bullpen. I can easily see Jenks being traded after 09 or 10, but this year just doesn't make a lot of sense unless someone wows you, and I don't see that happening with Fuentes, Hoffman, and Cruz still on the free agent market and the teams needing closers winding down quickly.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 12, 2008 -> 03:52 AM) Not if the money's right and we have a reasonable buyout and/or option, then it would be okay with me. Ozzie's call, along with KW and JR obviously. Those are exactly my thoughts on the issue. Abreu could really be a huge addition for this offense. He's not going to make or break the offense, but with him getting on base and in scoring position as much as he does at the top of the order, the Sox could really score a boatload of runs. He's not the savior, but not many guys are.

Not that I'm necessarily going to be calling for it, but it would be funny if Gourriel came over to the US while the Sox traded for Morales and the Sox entire infield was Cuban.

QUOTE (NCsoxfan @ Dec 11, 2008 -> 09:44 AM) I want to puke QUOTE (BearSox @ Dec 12, 2008 -> 12:57 AM) sums up my thoughts completely. Why? I don't understand. Abreu consistently puts up .370+ OBP's and put up 5 straight seasons of .400+ OBP from 02 to 06. I'd have absolutely no problem with Abreu at all.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Dec 12, 2008 -> 12:04 AM) I really think now is the time for Anderson to get another shot, but I don't think the lineup can get by with 3 "holes". A bottom 3 of Fields-Getz-Anderson could get rough, and in that scenario, they still don't have a "real" top of the order. I agree completely, and it sucks for BA. I think Ozzie has taken to him a bit and he has gotten out of his doghouse. But the problem that remains is that Beckham might be less than a year away, and signing a player like Hudson wouldn't make sense simply because of that. Furcal is honestly a great fit for the team when healthy, but I question whether he'll be healthy at the same time too, and I think Crede's back injury has left a bad taste in the organization's mouth, and I think that has a lot to do with the organization's lack of interest in him. On top of that, it's even harder and at times down right inefficient to have a leadoff hitter at 3B, especially with as many weak spots as the Sox might honestly have in the lineup. If the Sox traded Dye and signed Abreu, I wouldn't be completely opposed to something like Ramirez - SS Abreu - LF/RF Quentin - RF/LF Thome - DH Konerko - 1B Pierzynski - C Betemit/Fields - 3B Getz - 2B Anderson - CF (this is based on the assumption that Abreu won't like leading off, because I recall him really disliking it when he played for Philly...so long as he's in the top 2, I won't mind) but it's not good, simply because that bottom of the lineup could very easily be among the worst in the game. The pitching staff wouldn't be completely opposed to it, because the outfield defense goes from bad to average or good simply because of Anderson's presence and the infield defense looks atleast average, and there is potential in that lineup to score 800+ runs while the possibility also remains that it scores 750 or less too and is a mirror image of the 2005/07 lineup. It would be interesting to say the least and would be a bit exciting even through the disappointment. At this point, even anticipating more moves to be made, I could see the Sox finishing anywhere from 75 wins to 95 wins, simply because of the amount of unknowns - I hate the term question marks starting now - throughout the lineup and rotation. I do think that Getz is a major sleeper in all of this and that he could be the leadoff hitter by May. My main fear is the thought of Owens starting and the thought of Taveras in CF doesn't make me feel easy either.

I hate to play the "Cooper-cutter" card, but I just did.

One starter, one CF, and, if Dye is traded, a replacement for him in the outfield. If KW does that, I'll be happy with the offseason, although to be completely honest, I would have no problem with Anderson starting in CF (waits for Balta).

Valbuena's apparently a solid hitter, but his bat fits in best at 2B. The Indians outfield is pretty full with Sizemore, Choo, Francisco, Dellucci, and Crowe on his way too. I imagine all they are really doing is trading from a strength to try and fill a weakness, and in the process they pick up a solid reliever too. I have no problem with the deal from Cleveland's standpoint, but it's nothing groundbreaking either.

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 11, 2008 -> 01:37 AM) I didn't believe you just 3 days ago, but I more than believe it now. The Swisher trade and Dotel and Ramirez signings all occurred after the meetings last year. I won't be worried unless the Sox have made no moves by the time I'm back at school.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 12:59 PM) Just commenting on the irony. I'm not a Cowboys hater, I'm a sports media hype hater. You know what the Cowboys need? A little Brett Favre.

QUOTE (chunk23 @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 10:45 PM) None of that is reassuring at all. No selections in the rule V draft? The only type of player they could really even consider is a pitcher, and it seems the team feels pretty confident in that right now. I don't see any way possible that they could pick up a position player. They generally always pick someone up in the minor league portion...Cole Armstrong and Dewon Day have been apart of that, among others too.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 08:43 PM) Coop Can Fix 'Em. Teach him the Cutter. . Sarcasm or not, I'm not really sure Bedard has a need for a cutter.

.842 OPS against righties last year with very good power numbers. It's not a great deal for Tampa, but I wouldn't write it off as a brutal trade quite yet.

QUOTE (heirdog @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 01:49 PM) Brad Penny will still be around for awhile. There's no rush. We're not getting the top dogs for 3 yrs/ $24 million and that's probably our budget. I still don't understand anyone's fascination with Brad Penny, other than as someone to go out partying with BA.

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 06:01 PM) He hit .280 last year with 40 SB's and an average (.330) OBP. and he slugged a stellar .328, which added with his OBP, gives him a whopping .655 OPS. The only way Juan Pierre is when he's hit .300+. His entire game depends entirely upon average, and going to one of the smaller parks in the majors probably won't help him increase that average. Juan Pierre sucks major donkey balls. Fin.

I would deal both Quentin and Alexei for Hanley. It's unreal how good Hanley Ramirez is.

It's now a staring contest. The only reason Williams would deal Dye is because he believes he can get another outfielder to sign with the club. The only reason Jocketty would trade for Dye is because he feels he can't get another outfielder to sign with the club. But, if KW signs an outfielder, he then has to trade Dye below value because the Sox would have no room for him. If Jocketty loses out on the outfielders, he gets boned because the Sox won't deal Dye and he'll have to work with a reclamation project via trade (like Jose Guillen, who the Royals would have to pay a lot for) or via free agency, like Juan Rivera. The ball is in your court, Walt.

this is actually some of the most disappointing news of my day thus far. I was quietly hoping he'd resign with Milwaukee, but that just doesn't look like the case. The rest of free agency can proceed now.

QUOTE (heirdog @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 11:57 AM) Johan Santana was a Rule V pick of the Twins (from the Astros via the Marlins). Josh Hamilton may end up better than Bonilla too (we'll have to wait and see). Was Roberto Clemente considered a Rule V pick by the Pirates? Clemente was, yes. He was pretty damn good too or so I hear.

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 11:48 AM) Of course the Sox made probably the greatest Rule 5 pick in history in 1985 with Bobby Bonilla. Johan Santana is the greatest Rule 5 pick in history.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 05:36 PM) My wife and boss said I spend too much time here, I fired the wife, what should I do about my boss? tell him to make you a sandwich New question: I have a girlfriend, but her voice is deeper than mine, she's growing a full beard, she sits around and drinks beer all day watching the football game, and never has time to be with me. What should I tell her?

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 12:12 AM) wtf is up with your avatar? Hilarity ...and I've never even seen the video